This Christmas, Hollywood offers blended families a gift: the family comedy Daddy's Home, in which Will Ferrell stars as a stepfather who adores his stepchildren. He loves them so much that he wants to establish a good relationship with their absentee biological father (Mark Wahlberg) who reappears in their lives. The "real" father, however, is less receptive to the idea. Here are three reasons why you should grab the popcorn garland off the tree and head to the theater:
1. Stepdads finally get some credit! 
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Since the days of Hansel and Gretel, entertainment has NOT been good to stepparents. Other than "The Brady Bunch," few positive portrayals exist, particularly in cinema. That's a shame because that's not a real reflection of the modern day family: 50% of American kids are living with stepparents and 1300 new stepfamilies are formed every day. A film that shows that stepparents love and care about their stepchildren is long overdue.
2. Daddy's Home is funny because it's true. 
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Whether it should or shouldn't exist, competitive feelings and resentment often occur between step and bio parents. By making the uncomfortable situation overt, Daddy's Home cultivates all that awkward weirdness and hilariously plays it out. The best part, though, is that the film doesn't wallow in the fact that Wahlberg's dad character hasn't been around for the children. Instead, it's exists in the space that both men love the children with all their heart.
3. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a comedy power duo. 
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The Other Guys ranks among Will Ferrell's funniest movies. With Daddy's Home, it's clearly not a fluke that Ferrell as the dorky wuss and Wahlberg taking the cool, tough guy role is comedy magic; it's a partnership that works overtime in snorts, giggles and rip-roaring laughter.
Daddy's Home is hilarious and heartwarming, I laughed loud and often. Some of the scenes are instant classics that will show up in montages for decades to come. However, there's one reason why you shouldn't see it:
1. Daddy's Home is a Christmas release that is a great choice for most, but not all, of the family. 
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
This film focuses on adults and adult feelings, and children do not need to be aware of conflict between their "dads." Additionally, there's quite a bit of cursing in this film, especially coming out of the mouths of young kids. For adults, heed this warning: if the subject of a biological and stepfather competing for their children's affections hits too close to home in a new, raw way - you should pass!